Chapter 3
Over the next few days, Brody and I continued to see each other after school, and every day we went a little further. He wasn’t pressuring me to have sex, but he said that he couldn’t wait and, the more he thought about it, the more he couldn’t wait. Brody asked me out on a real date, and I was so excited. He told me he’d pick me up, and that meant one thing; he’d have to meet Connor and Ellery. The thought of him meeting my parents made me extremely nervous. I wasn’t sure how my dad was going to react since I wasn’t allowed to date yet. If he only knew. I walked into the living where my parents were snuggled on the couch.
“Hey, Mom and Dad.” I smiled. “I need to discuss something with you.”
My mom sat up and looked at me. “Okay, honey, what is it?”
I took in a deep breath as nervousness flowed throughout my body.
“Do you need to sit down?” my dad asked.
“Julia, whatever it is, just say it,” my mom said.
I sat down in the chair that sat across from them. “There’s someone I would like you to meet because we’re going out tomorrow.” There, I said it, I thought as I let out a breath.
“What’s his name?” my mom asked with a small smile.
“It better not be a ‘him,’” my dad immediately said.
He was starting already and not giving me a chance. Instantly, my defenses went up.
“His name is Brody,” I answered as I looked at my mom. “He goes to St. Matthews, and he’s eighteen.”
As I kept my eyes focused on my mom, I could feel my dad’s glare burning into my skin.
“No,” he said.
“Connor,” my mom said as she grabbed his hand.
“No, Ellery. She’s not going out on a date.”
I loved my dad, but sometimes he really sucked, and he needed to stop being so protective.
“Dad, why?” I whined.
“Because, Julia. You don’t need that complication in your life right now. You have your paintings and school to focus on. Not some boy whose only concern is getting in your pants.”
“DAD! Brody isn’t like that! He’s really sweet and caring, and he likes me a lot. Mom, please do something.”
“Connor, she’s sixteen. Come on. You remember what it was like when you were sixteen.”
“Exactly, and that’s why she’s not allowed to date. I only had one thing on my mind at that age,” he said. “Sorry, Princess, but the answer is no.”
I stood there and shook my head him. “Would it make you feel better if I told you I was a lesbian?” I shouted.
As he sat there, he slowly shook his head and glared at me with angry eyes. “You may go to your room now, Julia.”
When I started to walk away, I stopped, turned around, and looked at him with tears in my eyes. “For the record, I know what a man-whore you used to be until you met Mom, so you have no right!”
“Julia!” my mom exclaimed.
I stomped up the stairs in a huff and slammed my bedroom door as hard as I could. I threw myself on my bed as I lay there face down and sobbed into my pillow. My phone beeped with a text message from Collin.
“Are you okay, sis?”
“No. I hate him,” I replied back.
There was a soft knock on the door, and my mom walked in. She sat down on the bed next to me and started to rub my back.
“Julia, please don’t cry.”
“I don’t want to talk to you, Mom. Please get out,” I said in between sobs.
“You can go out with him, Julia. Just make sure he comes to the door when he picks you up so we can meet him first.”
I sniffed and turned my head. “Really? You’re going to let me go out with him?”
She took a tissue from my nightstand and handed it to me. “Yes, you may go out with him.”
“But what about Dad?”
She pursed her lips as she gave me a small smile. “I’ve handled your dad. So don’t worry. But you need to understand that he’s only trying to protect you and, believe me, I know he goes overboard sometimes. But, he does it out of love, Julia.”
“Thanks, Mom,” I said as I hugged her tightly.
“Dry your tears and go to bed.” She smiled as she walked to the door. She stopped and turned around. “I love you, Julia. Don’t ever doubt that.”
“I love you too, Mom.” I smiled back.
****
The next morning, I got dressed and went downstairs for breakfast. My dad was sitting at the table, drinking his coffee. I could feel him staring at me.
“Good morning, Julia.”
“Morning,” I said in a short tone.
I grabbed a bowl, poured some cereal and milk in it, and then took it over to the table. I wouldn’t look at him because I was still mad at him, and I felt bad for what I’d said.
“This boy you’re interested in; is his name Brody Sullivan?” he asked.
I looked up from my cereal bowl. “Yes.”
“He comes from a good and successful family. He’ll be picking you up tonight?”
“Yes,” I answered softly.
“Well, then, I guess I’ll be meeting him tonight before he takes you out on a—”
“Date, Connor. He’ll be picking her up and taking her on a date,” my mom said as she walked into the kitchen.
He looked at her and pursed his lips. “I know that, Ellery. Why do you have to keep emphasizing that word?”
I couldn’t help but laugh as I got up from the table and starting walking out of the kitchen.
“Julia?” my dad said after he cleared his throat.
I turned around and he had his finger on his cheek. I smiled as I walked over to him and gave him a kiss goodbye.
****
“How nervous are you that Brody is meeting your parents?” London asked as she lay across my bed.
“Very nervous. I’m not worried about Ellery. It’s my dad I’m worried about. God knows what kind of interrogation he’ll put Brody through.”
“So, are you going to have sex tonight?” she asked.
I peeked my head out of my walk-in closet and smiled. “I don’t know; we’ll see. Do you have any tips for me?”
“No, but it does hurt the first time, so prepare yourself. Remember the first time I did it? I came to you crying afterwards because it was awful.”
“I remember. But I also remember that it was John’s first time too and you said he didn’t know what he was doing. I don’t have to worry about that with Brody. He has plenty of experience.”
“Just make sure you use protection, Julia,” she said.
“Don’t worry. I’m not stupid.”
I slipped on my black leggings, a long beaded tank top, and my short black jacket. I needed to make sure my ass was covered or my dad wouldn’t let me out of the penthouse. I curled my long blonde hair and looked at the time. Brody was going to be here any minute.
“Don’t forget your tall black boots.” London smiled as she handed them to me.
We walked downstairs to the living room and my mom was sitting on the couch, looking through an art magazine.
“You look amazing, sweetheart.” She smiled.
“Thanks, Mom. Where’s Dad?”
“He’s in his office. Good luck. Let me know if he gets out of hand.”
London sat down next to my mom and looked at the art magazine with her, while I stepped into my dad’s office. He looked up at me and just stared.
“Well?” I asked as I turned around in circle.
“You look exactly like your mom.” He smiled. “You look beautiful, Princess.”
“Thanks, Daddy.”
My mom called my name and told me that Brody had arrived. I took in a deep breath as my dad followed me out of his office.
“You be nice,” I said.
“I’m always nice, Julia.”
We reached the living room, where Brody was talking to my mom and London. I smiled at him and said hi, and then proceeded to introduce him to Connor Black.
“Brody, this is my dad. Dad, this is Brody Sullivan.”
The two of them shook hands. I wanted to get the hell out of there as fast as I could before my dad had a chance to ask any questions. My phone beeped, and when I looked at it, there was a text message from London.
“Look at the way your dad’s staring him down.”
I shot London a look from across the room and then took Brody’s hand and led him to the elevator.
“We better get going.” I smiled.
“Have my daughter home by midnight, Mr. Sullivan,” my dad yelled from across the room.
“Don’t worry, Mr. Black, I’ll have her home on time. She’ll be safe with me.”
I turned and looked at my dad as he watched us step onto the elevator.
“Have fun, you two.” My mom waved.
****
Connor
As soon as the elevator door shut, I walked over to the bar and poured myself a scotch. Ellery stood on the other side of the room, staring at me.
“What?” I asked.
“He seems like a really nice boy. He was polite, proper, and very well dressed.”
“Those are the ones you have to watch out for,” I said as I held up my glass.
The fact was that I wasn’t ready to release my little girl out into the dating world. Ellery convinced me that sixteen was the appropriate age to start dating. She also threatened me. I knew Julia wasn’t perfect, but she was still my princess and she always would be. It was a miracle that she was even conceived. The odds were against her, between the reversal of my vasectomy and Ellery’s treatments.
“Look at you. You can’t stand this, can you?” Ellery asked as put her arms around me.
“No, I can’t. I hate the fact that my baby girl is out with some random guy doing God knows what.”
“I’ve educated her, Connor. She’s a smart girl and she’ll make the right choices.”
“I hope so, Elle,” I said as I kissed her lips.
“You need a distraction. I’m going to call Peyton and see if they want to come over for pizza.”
“Sounds good, sweetheart.” I smiled as I poured another Scotch.
****
Ellery
I walked into the kitchen, took my phone from the counter, and dialed Peyton.
“Hello, friend,” she answered.
“Hi, Pey. I wanted to know if you, Henry, and Hailey would like to come over for pizza? Julia went out on her first date and Connor can’t relax. He’s going crazy, and I think Henry would be a good distraction for him.”
“Sure, Elle. We can do that. I was just about to start dinner. Now I don’t have to cook. Henry should be home in a few minutes, so we’ll be over within the hour.”
“Thanks, Peyton.”
“Any time, Elle.”
I walked into the living room. Connor was sitting on the couch with Collin, looking at his laptop. “Henry, Peyton, and Hailey will be here within the hour. I already ordered the pizzas and salads.”
“Hailey’s coming over?” Collin asked.
“Yes,” I replied.
He got up from the couch and went upstairs. “Where are you going?” I asked.
“I forgot something in my room,” he said.
Before I sat down, I took the laptop from Connor and set it on the table. He held out his arms and I sat down on his lap. I smiled at him as I ran my fingers through his hair.
“Don’t worry about Julia. She’ll be fine.”
“How the hell can you be so calm?” he asked.
“Because it’s a date, Connor. A date of dinner, talking, and laughter.”
“I don’t know, Elle. I don’t trust him.”
Collin ran down the stairs and grabbed his laptop. The scent of Hollister cologne followed him.
“Did you just go upstairs and put on cologne?” I asked.
“Umm…no, it’s from earlier.”
“That’s funny. I didn’t smell anything on you earlier.” I smirked.
“Mom, please. Why are you making a big deal about it?”
“Yeah, Mom. What’s the big deal?” Connor smiled at me.
“This wouldn’t have anything to do with Hailey coming over, would it?”
“Mom! Stop!” Collin exclaimed as he headed up the stairs.
Connor and I looked at each other. “That’s my boy,” he said.